The Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has announced the arrest of 27 vessels involved in illegal bunkering and crude oil theft, while 294 illegal refinery sites were deactivated.
The outgone Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. Ibrahim Dewu, made this known on Tuesday in Calabar, Cross River State while handing over the command to his successor, Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire.
Dewu explained that the arrests were made between the period he assumed office as flag officer of the command, in February 4, 2022 and when he left the command on April 11, 2023.
The command also sustained effective patrol of its maritime area of responsibility while undertaking several ‘clearance and swamp buggy operations’ in the backwaters.
These, according to Dewu, resulted in a considerable reduction of piracy in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He said that the command also took part in some independent, joint and combined exercises like; Operation Calm Waters, Operation Tripartite Border Patrol, Operation Tsare Teku, Operation Gba Pada, Operation Dakatar Da Barawo and Operation Obangame 2023.
